Cable clip with segregator and method

ABSTRACT

A cable routing clip consists of a rear crosspiece, two clip arms extending from the front of the crosspiece and forming an open end slot, a pair of retaining members extending across the open end of the slot and one or more mounting tabs extending from the rear of the crosspiece. The inside faces of the clips arms are rounded to provide edge protection to cables held by the clip and the outer faces are planar and suitable for applying indicia of the cables within the slot. A front face of a retaining member is also planar and can accept indicia. The rear mounting tabs fit into rectangular slots and include ramped faces and locking notches. When two tabs are present, one of the tabs can be shorter than the so that a smaller rectangular slot can used on one side of a pair of mounting slots. The invention also relates to a riser with one or more channels which receive telecommunications cables and directs and organizers these cables into a plurality of vertical cable paths defined by a plurality of cable clips.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fiber optic cable and other cablemanagement for use in telecommunications systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Telecommunications equipment utilizing optical fiber for signaltransmission is often mounted within equipment racks that permit a highdensity of connections to be made in a small space. A high density ofconnections means that a large number of optical fiber cables will needto be routed to and from the equipment, also in a small space. While thehigh density of connections possible with optical fiber is one of theprincipal reasons for utilizing optical fiber in this sort ofenvironment, organizing the large number of optical fiber cablesconnected to the equipment can be difficult. This difficulty most oftenarises with respect to the cross-connect or jumper cables connected tothese telecommunications racks. Copper systems also experience similarcable management issues.

The outside plant or interfacility cables connected to such equipmentare cables which by their nature do not require frequent disconnect orreconnect, and which are also bundled more densely, with multiple fibersbeing held within a single cable. In contrast, the cables connected tothe front of these equipment racks are single fiber cables which may bedisconnected or reconnected often in the course of normal use andconfiguration of the equipment. The higher number of individual cablesand the need to be able to readily move connections require theprovision of clear cable segregation, labeling and organizationproximate to the front connections of these telecommunicationsinstallations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to a cable routing clip witha rear crosspiece and two clip arms defining an open-ended slot with twooverlapping retaining members extending across the slot. Another aspectof the present invention relates to the shape of mounting tabs extendingfrom the rear crosspiece opposite the clip arms for mounting the clip toa wall with rectangular slots. A further aspect of the present inventionrelates to a cable riser in which are mounted a plurality of cablerouting clips defining a plurality of vertical cable paths.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a cable clip with cablesegregator adapted for mounting in a wall having a plurality of slotsfor receiving telecommunications cables. A further aspect of the presentinvention relates to a cable clip with segregator which provides bendradius protection for cables passing through the clip. A still furtheraspect of the invention relates to a cable riser including cable clipswith segregators mounted to one of the walls. A still further aspect ofthe present invention relates to a cable riser including cable clipswith segregators mounted in one of the walls and plurality of cablerouting clips mounted within the riser defining a plurality of verticalcable paths.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method for loadingtelecommunications cables entering a cable riser into vertical cablepaths defined along the walls of the riser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the inventionand together with the description, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cable routing clip according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front-end view of the cable routing clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear end view of the cable routing clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a first side view of the cable routing clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a second side view of the cable routing clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the cable routing clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cable routing clip of FIG. 1,taken at line 7—7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a bridge mounting for the cablerouting clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the bridge mounting of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the wall structure for the bridgemounting of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a cable clip and cable segregatoraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the cable clip and segregator of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the cable clip and segregator of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the cable clip and segregator of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the cable clip and segregator of FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of acable clip and segregator with a gate shown in an open position.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the cable clip and segregator shown in FIG.16 with the gate in a closed position.

FIG. 18 is a detail view of the cable clip and segregator of FIG. 11,showing the area enclosed by circle 16 in FIG. 15.

FIG. 18A is a detail view of a cable slot of the cable clip andsegregator of FIG. 11.

FIG. 19 is a profile of two mounting cutouts in a riser wall formounting the cable clip and segregator of FIG. 11.

FIG. 20 is a front view of a cable riser according the present inventionmounted to the side of a telecommunications equipment rack.

FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of the cable riser of FIG. 20 with the32 individual cable paths indicated.

FIG. 22 is a close-up perspective view of the top of the cable riser ofFIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the cable riser of FIG. 20 with the cableclips and segregators 100 numbered and the six groups of clips 100indicated.

FIG. 24 is a front view of alternative embodiment of a cable riseraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a front view of the cable riser of FIG. 20 showing cableloading according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentinvention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts. A similar part in differentembodiments will be assigned that same reference number with theaddition of an apostrophe differentiate the embodiments.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 10, a cable routing clip 10 fororganizing cables is shown. Clip 10 is useful in a variety ofstructures, including a cable riser 200 discussed below, for managingtelecommunications cables. Clip 10 includes two clip arms 12 and 14,which have inner faces 16 and 18, respectively and outer faces 20 and22, respectively. A crosspiece 24 extends between the two clip arms 12and 14, and crosspiece 24 has a front side 26 and a rear side 28. Cliparms 12 and 14 have outer ends 30 and 32, respectively. Retaining tabs34 and 36 are mounted at outer ends 30 and 32 and extend across a slot38 which defined by crosspiece 24, and clip arms 12 and 14. Retainingtabs 34 and 36 have outer faces 40 and 42. Outer faces 20 and 22 ofclips arms 12 and 14, and outer faces 40 of retaining tab 34 are sizedand shaped to receive indicia of the cables held within slot 38. Outerface 42 of retaining tab 36 may also be shaped to receive such indicia.Retaining tabs 34 and 36 cooperate to extend fully across the width ofslot 38. As shown in FIG. 2, the retaining tabs actually overlap by anamount A. Retaining tabs 34 and 36 are less than the height of clip arms12 and 14 and are offset from each other to form a gap 44. Cables may beplaced within or removed from slot 38 by passing the cables through gap44. Clip 10 is made of a resilient, deformable material so that cablesthat might have a diameter or size greater than the width of gap 44 canstill be inserted into slot 38 through gap 44. The overlap A ofretaining tabs 34 and 36 is sufficient to permit some outwarddeformation of clip arms 12 and 14 and still have retaining tabs 34 and36 extending across slot 38. In FIG. 6, retaining tabs 34 and 36 areshown angled slightly in toward slot 38. Cable movement within slot 38may cause a cable to apply pressure to the inside of retaining tabs 34or 36. Biasing the tabs inward toward slot 38 will aid the tabs inresisting this pressure and maintain closure of slot 38 so that no cableare allowed to escape.

Extending longitudinally from rear side 28 of crosspiece 24 are mountingtabs 46 and 48, adapted for mounting clip 10 to a wall of atelecommunications equipment rack, a cable riser, or other suitablelocation. Mounting tabs 46 and 48 are generally parallel with clip arms12 and 14 and generally extend co-linearly with clip arms 12 and 14,respectively. Mounting tabs 46 and 48 are designed to fit into verticaltabs slots in sheet metal walls, such as shown in FIGS. 20 through 23,discussed below. Tabs 46 includes a ramped face 50 and a locking notch54, which is spaced apart from rear side 28 by a distance B. Tab 48,ramped face 52 and locking notch 56 are similarly configured. Distance Bis based upon the thickness of the wall into which clip 10 will beinserted. Thicker walls will require a larger distance B and thinnerwalls will permit a smaller distance B. When tabs 46 and 48 are insertedinto mounting slots in a wall, ramped faces 50 and 52 press against theinner side of the mounting slots to force tabs 46 and 48 to be deformedoutward. After the ramped faces have passed through the mounting slots,tabs 46 and 48, being made of resilient, deformable material return totheir original shape and locking notches 54 and 56 engage the oppositeside of the wall to hold clip 10 in place with face 28 against the wall.In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, mounting tab 48 has arecess 58, so that tab 48 does not extend to the same height as tab 46.In situations where the insertion orientation of clip 10 needs to befixed, the mounting slot for receiving tab 48 can be made shorter thanthe mounting slot for receiving tab 46, thus forcing clip 10 to mountedin the desired orientation.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a cross-section of clip arms 12 and 14 isshown. Cables passing through slot 38 may be directed to one side or theother after they pass through the slot. To prevent violation of bendradius rules for these cables, inner faces 16 and 18 of clip 10 arecurved.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 through 10, an alternative bridge mountingapproach for clip 10 is shown. In certain installations, it may benecessary or desirable to mount clips to the front of a wall withouthaving the mounting tabs protruding beyond the rear of the wall. A wallsegment 70 is shown, with a front face 60 to which a clip 10 will bemounted. A bridge 62 is formed in the wall 70, protruding from the frontface 60 and having mounting slots 64 and 66 on either side. Mountingtabs 46 and 48 are inserted into slots 64 and 66 as described above andlocking notches 54 and 56 engage the rear of bridge 62. Bridge 62extends far enough out from front 60 of wall 70 so that mounting tabs 46and 48 do not protrude beyond rear face 68 when clip 10 is mounted onwall 70. Mounting slots 64 and 66 shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 are notsized to force the insertion of clip 10 in a particular orientation.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 19, the details of a further cableclip 100 with cable segregator 101 are shown. Clip 100 is useful on avariety of structures, including riser 200, for managing cables, as willbe discussed below in greater detail. Clip 100 includes a side 102 andtwo ends, 104 and 106. Side 102 and ends 104 and 106 combine to form anopen sided housing 110 defining an area 108 within the housing. Intoarea 108 extend a series of fingers 112 from side 102, which define aseries of cable slots 114 between them. A slot 114 is also definedbetween a finger 112 and end 104 and a finger 112 and end 106. As shownin the FIGS. a total of seven fingers 112 cooperate with ends 104 and106 to form a total of eight cable slots 114. Each cable slot 114includes a pair of widened cable holding openings 116, giving clip 100 acapacity of sixteen cables. Cable slots 114 are sized so that a ribbonoptical fiber cable 120 can be inserted as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.Preferably, openings 116 are also sized and shaped to hold a round 3 mmoptical fiber cable 118. While slots 114 are smaller in width than thediameter of cable 118, clip 100 is made of a resilient, deformablematerial which, in cooperation with the cover of cable 118 will permitslots 114 to expand enough to permit the insertion of cable 118. Toprevent ribbon cable 120 from accidentally escaping from slot 114, lip122 on finger 112 provides an entrance to slot 114 which is slightlynarrower than the width of cable 120. To further prevent accidentalescape of cables from slots 114, a gate pivot 124 and a gate latch 126are provided, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. A gate 128 with a hinge 130that pivots about pivot 124 and a catch 132 which releasably latches tolatch 126 and which is made of a deformable, resilient material andwhich extends along the ends of fingers 112 to close off slots 114, willserve prevent accidental cable escape.

FIG. 18A shows slots 114 in more detail. Within slot 114 are regions ofvarying width. Beginning at the open end of slot 114, opposite side 102,a width 168 provides an entry for cables being inserted into slot 114.Moving toward side 102, the width of slot 114 then tapers to width 170,defined by the separation of opposing lips 122. Continuing toward side102, the width expands to a nominal width 172. Slot 114 then includesopposing openings 116, defining an expanded width 174. Continuing againin the direction of side 102, the slot returns to a nominal width 176before expanding again with opposing openings 116 defining an expandedwidth 178. Between the last set of opposed openings 166 and side 102,slot 114 returns to a nominal width 180

Also included as part of housing 110 may be trumpet flares 134, 136 and138 extending from end 104, end 106 and side 102, respectively. Thesetrumpet flares serve as radius protection devices for cables 118 and 120extending through slots 114 if the cables are required to changedirection after they pass through slots 114.

Clip 100 is adapted for mounting on a wall of a telecommunicationsequipment rack or to the wall of a cable riser attached to such a rack.This sort of installation is also shown in FIGS. 20 through 23,described below. FIG. 19 shows the shape of a cutout 134 in cable riserwall 136 in which a clip 100 could be mounted. A rear groove 138 in clip100 is defined by pairs of rear tabs 140 for receiving a rear edge 142of cutout 134. A lower groove 144 is defined by a pair of walls 146receives a lower edge 148 of cutout 134, and a lower recess 152 with anend wall 164 is provided at the front end of groove 144 to receive alower tab 150. An upper groove 154 is defined by a pair of walls 156receives an upper edge 158 of cutout 134. From upper edge 158 extends anupper tab 160 which is received in an upper recess 162 formed in thebottom of upper groove 154. To mount a clip 100 to a wall 136 in acutout 134, the following procedure is used: open gate 130; holding clip100 so that rear groove 138 is parallel to wall 136, angle end 106 ofclip 100 into cutout 134 so that upper edge 158 and upper tab 160 engageupper groove 154 and upper recess 162; apply pressure to ends 104 and106 of clip 100 to slightly deform the ends toward each other; pivotlower end 104 into cutout 134 so that lower edge 148 and rear edge 142are engaged by lower groove 144 and rear groove 138, respectively; withclip 100 still slightly deformed by pressure on ends 104 and 106, lowertab will move past end wall 164 and into recess 152; and releasing thepressure on ends 104 and 106 to allow clip 100 to regain its defaultshape and have end wall 164 engage lower tab 150 to hold clip 100 withincutout 134.

Referring now to FIGS. 20 through 25, a cable riser 200 with cablerouting clips 10 and cable clips 100 with segregators 101 is shown.Riser 200 is attached to a telecommunications equipment rack 202, inwhich may be mounted a wide variety of telecommunications equipmentwhich have a large number of ribbon cables 120 or 3 mm cables 118attached to them. Riser 200 as shown is designed to work with aequipment rack 202 containing a total of 32 cable connection modules,with each module including up to 16 optical fiber connections and havingup to 16 optical fiber cables exiting from each module into riser 200. Aclip 100 is provided along an inner wall 204 of riser 200 for eachmodule in rack 202. Each of the plurality of clips 100 is mounted withinan opening 134 in a first edge 203 of inner wall 204. The trumpet flaresof these clips 100 serve to provide bend radius protection to the cablesexiting rack 202 through clips 100 into riser 200 as these cablestransition from horizontal passage within rack 202 to vertical passagewithin riser 200. Riser 200 is composed of inner wall 204, a rear anglewall 206, a rear wall 208, an intermediate bulkhead 210 and an outerwall 212. Inner wall 204 is a first wall defining an open frontedchannel of riser 200. Inner wall 204 is connected to rear wall 208 byrear angle wall 206, which extends from a second edge 205 of inner wall204 to a first edge 207 of rear wall 208. Inner wall 204 and rear 208are generally perpendicular to each other, as can be seen in FIG. 22.Rear wall 208 is connected to outer wall 212 alone a second edge 209 ofrear wall 208 which is also a second edge 211 of outer wall 212. Outerwall 212 also includes a first edge 213 and extends generallyperpendicular to rear wall 208. Rear wall 208 and outer wall 212 aresecond and third walls which cooperate with the first wall to define theopen fronted channel of riser 200.

In FIG. 21, mounting tabs 46 and 48 of clips 10 can be seen extendingthrough bulkhead 210 and outer wall 212. A series of holes 214 throughrear wall 208 allow riser 200 to be mounted adjacent a rack 202 usingscrews or other similar fasteners. A series of holes 216 through flange218 of bulkhead 210 and also extending through rear wall 208 allowbulkhead 210 to be mounted within riser 200 using screws, bolts orsimilar fasteners. As shown in FIG. 24, riser 201 is a minor image ofriser 200 for mounting on the opposite side of rack 202.

Clips 10 are mounted within riser 200 so as to provide a distinct cablepath 220 to each set of up to 16 cables extending through each of theclips 100. A total of 32 cables paths 220, each capable of handling upto 16 cables are defined, as shown in FIG. 22. Each cable path 220 isindicated by a circled number associated with the top most clip 10 inthat cable path. The numbers for each cable path correspond to numbersassigned to each clip 100, with the topmost clip 100 labeled 1 and thebottommost clip 100 labeled 32, as shown on FIG. 23. Sixteen cable paths220 are located within the inner channel 222, defined by inner wall 204,angled wall 206, rear wall 208, and bulkhead 210, providing cablerouting and organization to cables exiting from the topmost sixteenclips 100 mounted on inner wall 204. Sixteen additional cable paths 220are located within outer channel 224, defined by bulkhead 210, rear wall208 and outer wall 212, providing cable routing and organization forcables exiting the bottommost sixteen clips 100 mounted on inner wall204.

Clips 100 are in one of six groups, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 25. Thegroupings of clips 100 correspond to the location of the cable pathwayfor each clip 100 as defined by clips 10 mounted in riser 200. The firstfive clips 100, numbered 1 through 5, are in Group I and cables exitingfrom this group of clips feed into paths 220 numbered 1 through 5, whichare mounted on inner wall 204 and on angled wall 206. Group II includesthe next 6 clips 100, numbered 6 through 11, and the cables from theseclips feed into paths 220 numbered 6 through 11, which are mounted onrear wall 208 within inner channel 222. Group III includes the clips 100numbered 12 through 16 and cables from these clips feed into paths 220numbered 12 through 16, which are mounted on bulkhead 210 within innerchannel 222. Group IV includes clips 100 numbered 17 through 21 andcables from the clips feed into paths 220 numbered 17 through 21 mountedon bulkhead 210 within outer channel 224. Group V includes clips 100numbered 22 through 27 and cables from the clips feed into paths 220numbered 22 through 27 mounted on rear wall 208 within outer channel224. Group VI includes clips 100 numbered 28 through 32 and cables fromthe clips feed into paths 220 numbered 28 through 32 mounted on outerwall 212 within outer channel 224.

The pattern for loading cable would generally be counter clockwise for ariser 200 and clockwise for a riser 201. As shown in the FIGS. path 220numbered 32 will hold the cables from clip 100 numbered 32. Clip 100numbered 32 is the lowest mounted clip 100 in riser 200 and path 220numbered 32 is the furthest clockwise-located path 220 in riser 200.Clip 100 numbered 31 is the next lowest mounted clip 100 and the cablefrom this clip will be held within path 220 numbered 31, locatedcounterclockwise from path 220 numbered 32 within outer channel 224 ofriser 200. Moving to the next highest mounted clip 100, up to clip 100numbered 17, the cables from each successive numbered clip will be heldby the next counterclockwise located cable path within outer channel224. Moving up to clip 100 numbered 16, the cables from this clip willpass into most clockwise mounted path 220 numbered 16 within innerchannel 222. Moving up to clip 100 numbered 15, the cables from thisclip will be held by the next counterclockwise mounted path 220 numbered15. Moving to the next highest mounted clip 100, up to clip 100 numbered1, the cables from each successive numbered clip will be held by thenext counterclockwise located cable path within inner channel 222. Thesame cable loading pattern can be applied within riser 201, except thatthe cables from each successive higher mounted clip 100 feeding into aparticular channel will be held by the next successive clockwise mountedpath 220.

With the potential of 512 total cables passing through riser 200, somemanner of coding the clips 10 which combine to make up the 32 differentpaths 220 is desirable. The maximum number of paths 220 within eachgroup of clips 100 is six. Therefore, if six distinctly marked orcolored versions of clip 10 are provided, each path 220 within riser 200can be uniquely identified by a combination of color or marking,designation of inner or outer channel, and which wall within the channelthe clips are mounted on. For example, a series of black clips 10 alongouter wall 212 in the outer channel 224 would define path 220 forrouting the cables from clip 100 numbered 28. White clips 10 alongbulkhead 210 in inner channel 222 would define path 220 for routingcables from clip 100 numbered 15. Alternatively, indicia signifyingwhich path 220 a clip 10 belongs to could be placed on front face 40,first outer face 20 or second outer face 22, depending on how the clipis mounted within the riser, so that the indicia could be easily seen bya person in front of the riser.

If higher densities of cabling are required for a particulartelecommunications equipment rack, riser 200 could include more than oneintermediate bulkhead 210 and thereby provide a greater number ofchannels and thereby of cable paths 220. Alternatively, if the densityof cabling for an equipment rack is not as high, bulkhead 210 could beremoved from riser 200 and the number of paths 220 reduced. The codingscheme for clips 10 described above is adaptable to both higher andlower density alternatives of riser 200.

With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understood thatchanges may be made in detail, especially in matters of the constructionmaterials employed and the shape, size and arrangement of the partswithout the scope of the present invention. It is intended that thespecification and depicted aspects be considered exemplary only, with atrue scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the broadmeaning of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cable clip with a cable segregator comprising:an outer housing including a first end with an inner portion and anouter portion, a second end with an inner portion and an outer portion,and a side with an inner portion and an outer portion, the innerportions of the first end, the second end and the side defining an opensided space; a plurality of members extending from the inner portion ofthe side into the open space defining a plurality of open ended cableslots within the open space, the cable slots having a depth and a width;the members being spaced apart so that the width of the cable slots issized to receive telecommunications cable; and the outer portions of thefirst end, the second end and the side including first, second and reargrooves, respectively, for receiving a first edge, a second edge and arear edge, respectively, of a mounting opening, the first and secondgrooves having recesses for receiving a tab formed in each of the firstand second edges of the mounting opening.
 2. The cable clip of claim 1,wherein the depth of the slots is sized to receive twotelecommunications cables in each slot.
 3. The cable clip of claim 2,wherein the width of the slots varies from the nominal width along thedepth, with a narrower than nominal portion at the open end of the slot,and a plurality of wider than nominal portions along the depth of theslot.
 4. The cable clip of claim 3, wherein the number of slots definedwithin the open space is eight.
 5. The cable clip of claim 4, whereinthe first end includes a pivot and the second end includes a catch, anda gate engages and rotates about the pivot and is adapted to releasablyengage the catch, the gate covering the open end of the slots when in aclosed position engaging the catch and being movable to an open positionupon disengaging the catch.
 6. A cable riser comprising: a first wallhaving a front edge, a rear edge, a first side and a second side; asecond wall generally perpendicular to the first wall having a firstedge, a second edge, a first side and a second side, and being connectedalong the first edge to the rear edge of the first wall; a third wallgenerally perpendicular to the second wall having a first edge, a secondedge, a first side and a second side, and the second edge of the thirdwall being connected to the second edge of the second wall; the firstside of the first wall, the first side of the second wall and the firstside of the third wall cooperating to define a channel; and the frontedge of the first wall having a plurality of mounting openings adaptedto mount cable clips with segregators to organize and holdtelecommunications cables and allow the cables to pass into the channelof the cable riser; the cable clips with segregators including an outerhousing with a first end with an inner portion and an outer portion, asecond end with an inner portion and an outer portion, and a side withan inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portions of the firstend, the second end and the side defining an open sided space; the outerportions of the first end, the second end and the side of the cableclips having upper, lower and rear grooves, respectively, and themounting openings in the front edge of the first wall have upper, lowerand rear edges, the upper, lower and rear grooves receiving the upper,lower and rear edges, respectively, of the cutout, and the upper andlower grooves having recesses for receiving a tab formed in each of theupper and lower edges of the cutout.
 7. The cable riser of claim 6,wherein the cable clip with cable segregator further comprises: aplurality of members extending from the inner portion of the side intothe open space defining a plurality of open ended cable slots within theopen space, the cable slots having a depth and a width; the membersbeing spaced apart so that the width of the cable slots is sized toreceive telecommunications cable; and the outer housing including atrumpet flare to provide bend radius protection for telecommunicationscables received in the slots.
 8. The cable riser of claim 7, wherein thedepth of the slots in the cable clips is sized to receive twotelecommunications cables in each slot.
 9. The cable riser of claim 8,wherein the width of the slots in the cable clip varies from the nominalwidth along the depth, with a narrower than nominal portion at the openend of the slot, and a plurality of wider than nominal portions alongthe depth of the slot.
 10. The cable riser of claim 9, wherein thenumber of slots in the cable clip defined within the open space iseight.
 11. The cable riser of claim 10, wherein the first end of thecable clip includes a pivot and the second end of the cable clipincludes a catch, and a gate engages and rotates about the pivot and isadapted to releasably engage the catch, the gate covering the open sidedspace in the cable clip when in a closed position engaging the catch andbeing movable to an open position upon disengaging the catch.
 12. Acable riser comprising: a first wall having a front edge, a rear edge, afirst side and a second side; a second wall generally perpendicular tothe first wall having a first edge, a second edge, a first side and asecond side, and being connected along the first edge to rear edge ofthe first wall; a third wall generally perpendicular to the second wallhaving a first edge, a second edge, a first side and a second side, andbeing connected to the second edge of the second wall along the secondedge to the second edge of the second wall; the first side of the firstwall, the first side of the second wall and the first side of the thirdwall cooperating to define a channel; the front edge of the first wallhaving a plurality of mounting openings and a plurality of cable clipswith segregators mounted in the mounting openings to permit cables topass into the channel; a plurality of cable routing clips mounted to thefirst side of the first wall, the first side of the second wall and thefirst side of the third wall within the channel, the clips cooperatingto define a plurality of generally vertical cable paths within thechannel; and each of the cables passing through the cable clips withsegregators in the front edge of the first wall being held within one ofthe plurality of cables paths inside the riser.
 13. The cable riser ofclaim 12, wherein the number of cable clips with segregators and thenumber of cable paths provided by the cable routing clips within theriser are equal.
 14. A method of loading cables into a cable risercomprising: providing a telecommunications equipment rack withvertically spaced apart cable connection locations, an cable riser withwalls defining a cable channel mounted adjacent to the rack, a pluralityof cables attached to the cable connection locations within the rack,the cables exiting from the rack through a side wall of the rackadjacent to the cable riser and entering the cable riser through aplurality of vertically spaced apart openings in a wall of the riser,the riser having a plurality of cable paths defined within the cablechannel, the cable paths being generally vertical and horizontallyspaced apart about the cable channel along the walls defining thechannel; numbering the openings sequentially from top to bottom, andnumbering the cable paths sequentially from the cable path nearest therack and nearest the front of the channel; inserting atelecommunications cable from a numbered cable opening into thecorresponding numbered cable path.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein aplurality of cable channels defined by walls of the cable riser areprovided within the cable riser, each cable channel having a pluralityof generally vertical, horizontally spaced apart cable paths about thechannel along the walls defining the channel, each channel having aplurality of vertically spaced apart openings through which cables fromthe adjacent telecommunications equipment rack enter the cable riser,and each channel independently numbers and designates the openings andpaths within that channel.
 16. A cable clip comprising: an outer housingincluding a first end with an inner portion and an outer portion, asecond end with an inner portion and an outer portion, and a side withan inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portions of the firstend, the second end and the side defining an open sided space; the outerportions of the first end, the second end and the side including first,second and rear grooves, respectively, for receiving a first edge, asecond edge and a rear edge, respectively, of a mounting opening, thefirst and second grooves adapted to receive a tab formed in each of thefirst and second edges of the mounting opening and orient the housingwithin the mounting opening; the first end including a gate and thesecond end including a catch, and the gate hingedly connected at thefirst end and adapted to releasably engage the catch, the gate coveringthe open sided space when in a closed position engaging the catch andbeing movable to an open position upon disengaging the catch.
 17. Thecable clip of claim 16, wherein the outer housing includes a trumpetflare along the inner portions of the first end, the second end and theside to provide bend radius protection to cables received within theopen sided space.
 18. The cable clip of claim 16, wherein a plurality ofmembers extend from the inner portion of the side into the open spacedefining a plurality of open ended cable slots within the open space,the cable slots having a depth and a width, the members being spacedapart so that the width of the cable slots is sized to receivetelecommunications cable.
 19. A cable riser comprising: a first wallhaving a front edge, a rear edge, a first side and a second side; asecond wall having a first edge, a second edge, a first side and asecond side, and being connected along the first edge to rear edge ofthe first wall; a third wall having a first edge, a second edge, a firstside and a second side, and being connected to the second edge of thesecond wall along the second edge to the second edge of the second wall;the first side of the first wall, the first side of the second wall andthe first side of the third wall cooperating to define an open sidedchannel; a plurality of cable clips; the front edge of the first wallhaving a plurality of mounting openings receiving the cable clips toorganize and hold telecommunications cables and allow the cables to passinto the channel of the cable riser; the mounting openings having a topedge, a side edge and a bottom edge, the top and bottom edges eachincluding a tab extending partially into the mounting opening, the tabsbeing of different sizes and adapted to be received within openings in atop and a bottom, respectively, of one of the cable clip to orient thecable clip within the mounting opening; and each of the cable clipsincluding a trumpet flare to provide bend radius protection fortelecommunications cables received in the open sided space and passinginto the open sided channel.
 20. The cable riser of claim 19, whereinthe open sided channel extends generally vertically and includes a topand a bottom, the channel defining a narrower cross section at thebottom than at the top.
 21. The cable riser of claim 19, wherein thecable clip comprises: an outer housing including a top with an innerportion and an outer portion, a bottom with an inner portion and anouter portion, and a side with an inner portion and an outer portion,the inner portions of the top, bottom and side defining an open sidedspace; the bottom including a gate and the top including a catch, andthe gate hingedly connected at the top and adapted to releasably engagethe catch, the gate covering the open side space when in a closedposition engaging the catch and being movable to an open position upondisengaging the catch.
 22. The cable riser of claim 21, wherein theouter portions of the top, bottom and side have upper, lower and reargrooves, respectively, adapted to receive the top, side and bottomedges, respectively, of the mounting opening, and the upper and lowergrooves having recesses for adapted to receive the different sized tabsformed in each of the top and bottom edges, respectively, of themounting opening.
 23. The cable riser of claim 21, wherein a pluralityof cable routing clips are mounted to the first side of the first wall,the first side of the second wall and the first side of the third wallwithin the channel, the clips cooperating to define a plurality ofgenerally vertical cable paths within the channel; and each of thecables passing through the cable clips in the front edge of the firstwall being held within one of the plurality of cables paths inside theriser.
 24. The cable riser of claim 23, wherein the number of cableclips and the number of cable paths provided by the cable routing clipswithin the riser are equal.
 25. A cable riser comprising: a first wallhaving a front edge, a rear edge, a first side and a second side; asecond wall having a first edge, a second edge, a first side and asecond side, and being connected along the first edge to rear edge ofthe first wall; a third wall having a first edge, a second edge, a firstside and a second side, and being connected to the second edge of thesecond wall along the second edge to the second edge of the second wall;the first side of the first wall, the first side of the second wall andthe first side of the third wall cooperating to define an open sidedchannel; the front edge of the first wall having a plurality of mountingopenings adapted to receive a cable clip to organize and holdtelecommunications cables and allow the cables to pass into the channelof the cable riser; and the mounting openings having a top edge, a sideedge and a bottom edge, the top and bottom edges each including a tabextending partially into the mounting opening, the tabs being ofdifferent sizes and adapted to orient the cable clip within the mountingopening.
 26. A cable clip with cable segregator comprising: an outerhousing including a first end with an inner portion and an outerportion, a second end with an inner portion and an outer portion, and aside with an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portions ofthe first end, the second end and the side defining an open sided space;a plurality of members extending from the inner portion of the side intothe open space defining a plurality of open ended cable slots within theopen space, the cable slots having a depth and a width; the membersbeing spaced apart so that the width of the cable slots is sized toreceive telecommunications cable; and the outer portions of the firstend, the second end and the side including first, second and reargrooves, respectively, for receiving a first edge, a second edge and arear edge, respectively, of a mounting opening, the first and secondgrooves having recesses for receiving a tab formed in each of the firstand second edges of the mounting opening.
 27. The cable clip of claim26, wherein the depth of the slots is sized to receive twotelecommunications cables in each slot.
 28. The cable clip of claim 27,wherein the width of the slots varies from the nominal width along thedepth, with a narrower than nominal portion at the open end of the slot,and a plurality of wider than nominal portions along the depth of theslot.
 29. The cable clip of claim 28, wherein the number of slotsdefined within the open space is eight.
 30. The cable clip of claim 29,wherein the first end includes a pivot and the second end includes acatch, and a gate engages and rotates about the pivot and is adapted toreleasably engage the catch, the gate covering the open end of the slotswhen in a closed position engaging the catch and being movable to anopen position upon disengaging the catch.
 31. A cable riser comprising:a first wall having a front edge, a rear edge, a first side and a secondside; a second wall having a first edge, a second edge, a first side anda second side, and being connected along the first edge to rear edge ofthe first wall; a third wall having a first edge, a second edge, a firstside and a second side, and being connected to the second edge of thesecond wall along the second edge to the second edge of the second wall;the first side of the first wall, the first side of the second wall andthe first side of the third wall cooperating to define an open sidedchannel; a plurality of cable clips each including an outer housingincluding a top with an inner portion and an outer portion, bottom withan inner portion and an outer portion, and a side with an inner portionand an outer portion, the inner portions of the top, bottom and sidedefining an open sided space, the bottom including a gate and the topincluding a catch, and the gate hingedly connected at the bottom andadapted to releasably engage the catch, the gate covering the open sidespace when in a closed position engaging the catch and being movable toan open position upon disengaging the catch; the front edge of the firstwall having a plurality of mounting openings receiving the cable clipsto organize and hold telecommunications cables and allow the cables topass into the channel of the cable riser; the mounting openings having atop edge, a side edge and a bottom edge; the inner portions of the top,bottom and side of each of the cable clips including a trumpet flare toprovide bend radius protection for telecommunications cables received inthe open sided space and passing into the open sided channel; aplurality of cable routing clips mounted to the first side of the firstwall, the first side of the second wall and the first side of the thirdwall within the channel, the clips cooperating to define a plurality ofgenerally vertical cable paths within the channel; and each of thecables passing through the cable clips in the front edge of the firstwall being held within one of the plurality of cables paths inside theriser.